Hit-and-run driver leaves cyclist on side of road

A driver in South Austin ran into a cyclist and took off, leaving the man bloody and broken on the side of the road.

Shawn Day was taken to a hospital and treated for broken bones and given several stitches. He's hoping his story convinces the driver to come forward.

“All I heard was a thud and it happened so quick,” said Day

Around 5 a.m. Tuesday, Day was riding his bicycle 11 miles to work when he suddenly took a hit from an SUV.

“I didn't see him. He hit me from behind, so as he hit me I went flying up. It happened so fast. So I went flying up and I bounced, and as soon as I bounced, I looked up and he was veering right back into his lane,” Shawn said. 

The driver didn't even hesitate and sped off down the road, leaving Shawn unable to call for help.

“I used one of my lights on the front of my bike and I waved somebody down and they called paramedics, police and the fire department,” said Day. 

Shawn was taken to South Austin Hospital and treated for his injuries.

“I've got a couple broken bones in the elbow and a large gash in my leg that required 15 stitches,” Day said. 

The fear that this could happen again is impossible for him to forget.

“I'm real hesitant to get back on my bike. I've been riding for years, the same route every other day for work, and this has never ever happened to me. It's pretty scary,” Day said.

Austin police are looking for the driver who side-swiped Shawn, but so far they have had no luck.

“I just don't understand how somebody could run over somebody, or hit somebody, and keep driving like, ‘Oh it just never happened,’ but it happens too much here in Austin,” Day said.

Shawn said that's making life more difficult by the day.

“I'm out of work, I'm missing pay, got to pay my bills too, like anybody else,” Day said. 

The shoulder where Day was riding is about 20 feet wide. His bike was lit up and he was wearing reflective clothing. Shawn was not wearing a helmet at the time, but luckily had only minor scrapes on his head.

“It's still fresh, so I got a lot to think about. I'm just thankful I'm alive and not severely, severely mangled or hurt to where I can't walk again or I'm in a coma, so somebody's watching over me,” said Day. 

He's hoping whoever was driving that dark colored SUV will come forward.

“You need to turn yourself in. Do the right thing. You could have potentially killed somebody,” Day said.